tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11783912096944848092024-03-14T02:58:25.041+03:00Never Miss An OpportunityOne Canadian family's expatriate adventure in Turkey.Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.comBlogger300125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-48750927138128148062016-03-01T06:22:00.001+02:002016-03-01T06:22:38.912+02:00Expat 101Five years ago I didn't know where Turkey was and it was unlikely I could have given a useful definition of expat.<br />
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Some things I learned along the way:<br />
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1) The sooner you call where ever you are "home"; even if it is temporary, the easier everything gets.<br />
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2) If you do nothing else, learn all the local language you possibly can by whatever means you can.<br />
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3) "You're not in Kansas, anymore." Or where ever it is you're from - make peace with that and move on. <br />
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4) It's your responsibility to stay in touch with friends and family back home. Out of sight - out of mind is a cold hard fact of life, so you're going to have to work at maintaining relationships with people at a distance.<br />
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5) If it's not in the contract, it isn't going to happen. CEO's and CFO's may agree to all sorts of things, but in the end the contract you sign is all you can expect. A detailed contract is your friend. <br />
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6) Trailing spouses need exceptional partners. I am fortunate because mine communicated and shared decision making. We have seen many unique expat marriages arrangements in our time here and some unusual divorce arrangements too.<br />
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7) If you're moving abroad for the money; don't. Exotic travel destinations and your family's income converted to local currency may look like a windfall, but there is a downside for both the employee and the family when you're ten thousand kilometers from people you love. <br />
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8) Your children may suffer. Do everything you can to mitigate that pain and loneliness. This applies to children of all ages. Even adult children can be affected negatively when their parents live abroad.<br />
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9) You're stronger, more resilient and more creative than you think. You can do this! Learning a new language, navigating a new culture and finding satisfaction and contentment is possible even far from home.<br />
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10) Treasure the people you meet along the way. Other expats and natives living in your new country will be invaluable assets as you navigate the new culture and cope with the unfamiliar.Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-66479923533383487562016-02-13T17:01:00.001+02:002016-02-13T17:10:25.885+02:00It's starting to look like...I can take "learn Turkish" off my to - do list.<br />
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I tried to wave a man ahead of us in line at the grocery store this morning. We had two full carts and he had a basket.<br />
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Not only did he refuse; he started a conversation with me about who we are and what we were doing in Gelibolu in ENGLISH!<br />
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In the five years we've been here I can count on one hand the number of times a man has spoken to me (never). Men speak if Cam's with me (he wasn't this morning) and we are introduced, but never when I am on my own or with the children.<br />
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Every time I turn around lately, someone else is speaking to me in English. <br />
<br />Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-64514470583316856322016-01-30T13:05:00.000+02:002016-02-09T13:08:06.569+02:00Xanthi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello, this is Johanna speaking.<br />
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Last weekend it was looking like Dad was going to be really busy for the next three to four weeks and the weather was excellent. I had been kind of hoping to go somewhere, so Friday afternoon, I got the job of planning the weekend: destination and activities. Mom said she would book the hotel.<br />
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So I looked around, and finally settled on a Greek town West of Alexandroupoli called Xanthi.<br />
It was supposed to have a couple of churches, museums, and a fairly nice `old town`.<br />
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Saturday morning, we left bright and early for the Greek border. It turned out to be a good thing we did. It took us all of two hours, possibly more, to get across the border. This made the 2 hour drive to Xanthi take closer to 6 hours.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQhNiUPjmpc/VrRtCCKPdoI/AAAAAAAABQw/YD8J_dVIkfg/s1600/IMG_2114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQhNiUPjmpc/VrRtCCKPdoI/AAAAAAAABQw/YD8J_dVIkfg/s320/IMG_2114.JPG" width="320" /></a>Once we finally crossed the border, we drove past a long avenue of tractors parked on either side of the road. Apparently the farmers (and others) are protesting a tax hike that will pull 29% of their income instead of 10%.<br />
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About half way between the border and Xanthi we faced another delay as we were rerouted by the police, off the main highway and through the center of Komotini. We eventually found a secondary highway and continued on our way. While I`m not 100% sure why, the road was closed I suspect it was another demonstration, and the tractors were blocking the road since we ran into the same problem on the way back.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YSMvPS9261w/VrRXLyNmXhI/AAAAAAAABO4/C2VqOTh3mrQ/s1600/IMG_2008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YSMvPS9261w/VrRXLyNmXhI/AAAAAAAABO4/C2VqOTh3mrQ/s200/IMG_2008.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bwwlfl6lTEw/VrRXBzip-oI/AAAAAAAABO0/buYwRm6Mz4Y/s1600/IMG_2003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bwwlfl6lTEw/VrRXBzip-oI/AAAAAAAABO0/buYwRm6Mz4Y/s200/IMG_2003.JPG" width="200" /></a>On the bright side, the detour took us around lake Vistonida, which is also home to the St Nicholas monastery. Two churches, and a few other buildings are built in the lake at a spot called Porto Lagos.<br />
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It was a beautiful day, and everyone was glad to get out of the car. On our way back to the car, we stopped to talk to one of the monks who spoke good English. I don`t know why I only took one picture, but I guess I wasn`t quite in vacation mode yet, and I was just excited to be out of the car.<br />
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My understanding is that the monks living at this monastery come from other monasteries on Mt Athos, the holy mountain to the South. For more information on Mt Althos check out this <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mt-athos-a-visit-to-the-holy-mountain/" target="_blank">CBS article.</a> The monk we talked too couldn`t wait to return to the mountain because of how damp it was on the water. I can`t really blame him.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PEK4hBU98us/VrRXiEU0LhI/AAAAAAAABPE/NgbwE-D7wH8/s1600/IMG_2016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PEK4hBU98us/VrRXiEU0LhI/AAAAAAAABPE/NgbwE-D7wH8/s320/IMG_2016.JPG" width="239" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YwD7WhOOZK0/VrRXf63ZLUI/AAAAAAAABPA/QHZVHYxJLm8/s1600/IMG_2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YwD7WhOOZK0/VrRXf63ZLUI/AAAAAAAABPA/QHZVHYxJLm8/s320/IMG_2011.JPG" width="239" /></a>After leaving the Monastery we made our way to the hotel, checked in and walked up to the main square, where we found a restaurant that the concierge had recommended and ate supper.<br />
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We wandered the Old Town until dark, then found a cab driver and zipped back to the hotel.<br />
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On Sunday we spent our day at the History and Folk museum in the Old Town and the Avdera Archaeological museum at - wait for it - Avdera, a tiny little town South East of Xanthi.<br />
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The Folk Museum was better than I expected. It was housed in an old fashioned duplex that had been built by two brothers. Apparently the tobacco trade was very big, and very profitable in Xanthi through the 18 and 1900s and the houses of the tobacco merchants are now theaters, restaurants and this one is a museum.<br />
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We had to knock hard on the door to get in, but the lady inside was happy to see us and tell us all about the house and the displays that we had questions about afterwards. There were plenty of displays of traditional dresses and outfits.<br />
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Upstairs they had few furnished rooms and a stamp collection dating from the mid 1900s to now.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--nn36m_KyzU/VrReJwN3t5I/AAAAAAAABP4/TUBRA8wR9Ds/s1600/IMG_2065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--nn36m_KyzU/VrReJwN3t5I/AAAAAAAABP4/TUBRA8wR9Ds/s200/IMG_2065.JPG" width="149" /></a>Downstairs were a few more furnished setups and a few farm implements, including a wooden plow. There was also an assortment of household items and supplies, some old photography cameras and a movie camera. and a still for making Ouzo. Unfortunately, the downstairs area was poorly lit and I didn`t get many decent pictures down there.<br />
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The house was just as interesting or more so than the displays it housed, The stair well to the upstairs was painted to look like Marble.<br />
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The ceilings and walls were painted with graduated levels of molding. If you look closely at the ceiling in these two pictures, the first layer of molding is real, but the rest is all painted. Upstairs, the ceiling was painted to look as though it were open to the sky.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-As0w_0BNNrU/VrRshzfgsJI/AAAAAAAABQY/uFoZYwHqdyQ/s1600/IMG_2071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-As0w_0BNNrU/VrRshzfgsJI/AAAAAAAABQY/uFoZYwHqdyQ/s320/IMG_2071.JPG" width="320" /></a> From the museum we found a restaurant and had lunch, then at my request we went to check out the church I had spotted the night before. It was beautiful on the outside.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BqMa_nErp6w/VrRzkz8UHhI/AAAAAAAABRU/pphMbO7Shs4/s1600/IMG_2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BqMa_nErp6w/VrRzkz8UHhI/AAAAAAAABRU/pphMbO7Shs4/s320/IMG_2080.JPG" width="320" /></a> But the inside wasn`t a slouch either. Looking at the paintings and chandelier made it easy to imagine what the Hagia Sophia must have looked like before the Muslim takeover. Of course, the decor in the Haigia Sophia would have been Mosaics instead of paintings.<br />
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The museum at Avdera was interesting because of the large number of grave related finds, including pottery, jewelry and a couple of slightly creepy grave reconstructions.<br />
They also had a slide show of images from the excavation of the site from the early 1900s and onwards, as well as some copies of original sketches and notes from the archeologists, which was fascinating.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFQybJ3aj-4/VrRtSyjQ52I/AAAAAAAABQ8/P0iuXS9fQU4/s1600/IMG_2166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NFQybJ3aj-4/VrRtSyjQ52I/AAAAAAAABQ8/P0iuXS9fQU4/s320/IMG_2166.JPG" width="320" /></a> That evening we completed the locked room puzzle that I had booked, with the help of google translate on the <a href="http://alcatraz/" target="_blank">greek site</a> the people running the facebook page, and the guy in charge of the site, spoke English well. The puzzle itself was hard because it split us up and put us all in different rooms (jail cells and Dad was chained to a wall). But we made it out, and were all still speaking by the end of it, even though the guy in charge was rather annoyed with some of our improvised solutions.<br />
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On Sunday we drove home, but once again, the trip didn`t go as planned, instead of crossing at Ipsala, the same way we came in, we were diverted to the northern border crossing at Edirne. The drive is quite a bit longer, but we had no trouble at the border crossing itself. Once we were back on the Turkish side we all gawked at another edition of only in Turkey. We followed this truck for a while after getting out of Edirne. The horse was haltered, and tied in the front of the truck box, it seemed quite content to stick its head out in the breeze. The rest of the box seemed to have most of a household in it, an appliance or two and some furniture. </div>
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M Johanna Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05580718276742540923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-83678564422763692692016-01-16T06:51:00.000+02:002016-01-25T08:06:28.506+02:00No Camel Wrestling After All<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are two "cultural" events, that I've been reading about in the guide books. One is oil wrestling which happens every year in June near Edirne on the Greek/Turkey border and camel wrestling which happens in January in Selcuk.<br />
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With a little arm twisting, I convinced my family that a trip to Selcuk might be just the thing. We left Friday morning and arrived in the dark Friday night after a long, but uneventful day on the road. There are a few roads that lead to Selcuk from our house, but they all involve mountains. We decided this trip that a new route was in order so we crossed the Marmara at Lapseki, drive to Canakkale and from there to Can and then Balikeshir. It was a wild journey, up one side of the mountain and down and then back up again. Now these are little mountains compared with the Canadian Rockies, but 500m elevation gain on narrow Turkish roads without so much as a guardrail, make for an exciting ride.Thankfully the weather was good and the views were amazing. The other good thing about the day was that Sam was riding shotgun and I was in the backseat!<br />
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The weather for Sam's birthday, on Saturday, wasn't so great. It was windy and threatening rain, so we headed to the Train Museum first. Not sure why but the kids love this place and of course Cam does too. As usual we had the place just about to ourselves.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Johanna spent a lot of her time getting in and on the trains.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole and Sam spent time together exploring.</td></tr>
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I seem to have taken a lot of photos of roosters!</div>
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On the way back from the Train Museum, I suggested we stop briefly at the Seven Sleepers. We'd never been before. According to legend, seven young people hid in a cave to avoid persecution. They fell asleep and awoke miraculously 180 years later. This site isn't on the regular Ephesus tour. I had the impression it was a small cave with a restaurant out front.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s4aKXCNyTIA/VqGstOAFmzI/AAAAAAAAENU/p_dxh_hWB00/s1600/DSCN7457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s4aKXCNyTIA/VqGstOAFmzI/AAAAAAAAENU/p_dxh_hWB00/s320/DSCN7457.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what I expected. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GkpOIHCHmrA/VqGs1lQSu0I/AAAAAAAAENc/f2zw3L6MqE8/s1600/DSCN7464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GkpOIHCHmrA/VqGs1lQSu0I/AAAAAAAAENc/f2zw3L6MqE8/s640/DSCN7464.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was what we saw.</td></tr>
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It appears that a large Christian church was built into the rocky hillside to commemorate the miracle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a6_fF3CuPRc/VqGtVRzNmiI/AAAAAAAAENk/valYIQVFriY/s1600/DSCN7467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a6_fF3CuPRc/VqGtVRzNmiI/AAAAAAAAENk/valYIQVFriY/s400/DSCN7467.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The site is an amazing warren of passages, niches, and empty tombs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BnvDMVWJ5_E/VqGtxr93K7I/AAAAAAAAEN0/2LUgQWQNLS8/s1600/DSCN7505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BnvDMVWJ5_E/VqGtxr93K7I/AAAAAAAAEN0/2LUgQWQNLS8/s400/DSCN7505.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not all of the site is visible from behind the fence. The kids followed a steep path to one side of the site and gained access to some of the more interesting areas that way. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eMVJ_xfvJGw/VqGt_wNgqhI/AAAAAAAAEOE/cpwR-PcGutI/s1600/DSCN7521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eMVJ_xfvJGw/VqGt_wNgqhI/AAAAAAAAEOE/cpwR-PcGutI/s320/DSCN7521.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In some places the original painted mosaics are still visible.</td></tr>
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After a ramble around the site, Johanna and Sam went exploring down a narrow pathway along the hillside. This is what they found:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-01gtiaAv6Uk/VqG1BjIpeqI/AAAAAAAAEOY/8NJBfwvx-PQ/s1600/DSCN7482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-01gtiaAv6Uk/VqG1BjIpeqI/AAAAAAAAEOY/8NJBfwvx-PQ/s640/DSCN7482.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two enormous rock arches.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FpZ2sR66-0/VqWdyHio5TI/AAAAAAAAEPE/BH0gha30X7A/s1600/DSCN7495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FpZ2sR66-0/VqWdyHio5TI/AAAAAAAAEPE/BH0gha30X7A/s200/DSCN7495.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gigantic boulders on the ground made me uneasy, because it was clear they had once been overhead.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NsBm_L944DA/VqG030-F72I/AAAAAAAAEOU/pnaUmslAoMU/s1600/DSCN7477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NsBm_L944DA/VqG030-F72I/AAAAAAAAEOU/pnaUmslAoMU/s400/DSCN7477.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids loved the place and I tried not to worry about falling rock.</td></tr>
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After a late lunch in Selcuk, Cam and I dropped Johanna, Nicole and Sam off at St. John's Bascilica, the site of an enormous church built by Justinian I and Theodora, who are also responsible for the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The apostle John is buried on the site. Cam and I went looking for and found Pamucak Beach and the nearby site that was going to be used for the Camel Wrestling event the following day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yw6kwXyeLtA/VqWfby2DTKI/AAAAAAAAEPY/Ak7ss5b0F2o/s1600/DSCN7526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yw6kwXyeLtA/VqWfby2DTKI/AAAAAAAAEPY/Ak7ss5b0F2o/s640/DSCN7526.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everywhere we went in Selcuk there were orange trees filled with fruit.We picked a few after we saw locals filling bags.The flesh was light orange and the fruit very sour.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taxi drivers sharing a one pot meal. No forks just bread for dipping.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-me1MwEqu2nI/VqWfohhFEVI/AAAAAAAAEPg/rYqtWrxh0Y4/s1600/DSCN7534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-me1MwEqu2nI/VqWfohhFEVI/AAAAAAAAEPg/rYqtWrxh0Y4/s640/DSCN7534.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The enormous fortress on top of the hill overlooking the town is under repairs and not really open for visitors. However the gate was open and I hear that Johanna, Nicole and Sam walked up the hill and had a look a round inside.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sucuk (garlic sausage). Johanna and I had a walk around the market late in the day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ar5bHnUDT_k/VqWgLQ7-FwI/AAAAAAAAEPo/hMEFmuNzFAU/s1600/DSCN7536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ar5bHnUDT_k/VqWgLQ7-FwI/AAAAAAAAEPo/hMEFmuNzFAU/s320/DSCN7536.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of vegetable and fruit vendors.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bags of grains, dried beans and spices.</td></tr>
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<br />On our way out of the market, Johanna and I followed the sound of music and found a crowd of 50 people squeezed into a small area, watching a couple of men dance in the street. We hung back initially because the watchers appeared to be men. However, two of the band members (the drummers) were women. When we got close, one of the older men who was watching, made a place for me to get close and take pictures. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdB7Y7tc8s4/VqWk_p7rkyI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/wL1hU5_mHr4/s1600/DSCN7540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdB7Y7tc8s4/VqWk_p7rkyI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/wL1hU5_mHr4/s400/DSCN7540.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crowd and the dancers in front of the arches of the aqueducts.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dancer and a drummer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the dancers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PntuFM6z2dA/VqWmcwXB0cI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/7zN5SO_psMU/s1600/DSCN7547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PntuFM6z2dA/VqWmcwXB0cI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/7zN5SO_psMU/s400/DSCN7547.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The band and dancers from the back.</td></tr>
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Afterwards, we found a little place nearby for supper. Cam told the waiter that it was Sam's birthday, so he went out and bought a small cake, wrote Sam's name on it and brought it for dessert. <br />
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Through the night high winds ripped through the region, bringing heavy rain. After breakfast, Sunday we drove out to the camel wrestling site bundled for the weather, only to discover that the event was canceled and the camels had "gone home". We were all disappointed.<br />
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We spent the rest of the morning in the newly opened Ephesus Museum. It's the nondescript brick building behind the tourist information center near the the bus station; not the enormous pillared building at the edge of town as I first thought. The beautiful building with the columns and carved stone lintels is of course a shopping mall built especially for people arriving by tour bus. The Museum has an interesting collection of coins, headless statues, sarcophagi, jewelry and small household items retrieved from Ephesus. They could have used more seating especially in front of the 30 minute "through the ages" video of Ephesus, but otherwise I quite enjoyed it. It made this prosperous vibrant ancient capital city come alive.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a big tree in the little tea shop adjacent to the gift shop.</td></tr>
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<br />We spent the balance of the day reading and relaxing in our hotel room. We stayed at the Hotel St. John which had beautiful furnishings and comfy beds, in addition to being well located for walking around Selcuk and clean.<br />
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Monday morning we got up to chilly rainy weather, so we piled into the X-Trail and headed for home. Selcuk is about 6.5 hours from our home on the Saros, so we expected to be home by suppertime. <br />
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However, when we got to Izmir, we discovered the highway from Izmir to Manisa was closed and there was snow on the cars coming from that direction. Using the map and sat nav we found a different route out of Izmir and got on the road to Bergama. We stopped in Bergama for a conference and for lunch. Johanna was all for stopping at Bergama for some site seeing, but Cam was anxious to get home. So we got back in the car and set out again. In an hour's time our rainy coastal drive turned into a mountain highway drive, complete with snow and rock slides.<br />
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There wasn't a lot of snow on the roads, but they were slick. About 5:30 Cam checked in with a colleague who told us that the ferries across the Marmara were cancelled. The journey from Bandirma to Biga, just 74k, took us all of two hours. We prayed and slid our way down a couple of long hills, surrounded by big trucks in the dark. Using the sat nav, we were able to find a hotel in Biga and there we sat for two days, waiting for the roads to clear and the ferries to sail.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Domino's Pizza delivery scooters lined up outside the Biga location.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biga's new mosque. According to one Turkish tour guide, Turkey has more mosques than any other country.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuesday, January 19. Nicole in front of our "otel".</td></tr>
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We were all glad to get home Wednesday afternoon. We stopped long enough in Gelibolu for Sam to pick out a birthday cake, and for Cam to pick up car insurance paperwork. There was still a bit of snow in some of the ditches along the highway, but nothing around our place. The house was like a meat locker. It took most of two days for us to get it warmed up. Oh how I miss central heating.<br />
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-50181181653186360912016-01-14T16:42:00.000+02:002016-01-22T05:46:25.341+02:00Day to day: getting a hair cut, buying new glasses, window washing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One small disclaimer: I have no idea how getting a hair cut and buying new glasses is supposed to work in Turkey, but I can tell you how it works for us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Johanna in the chair - surrounded by well - everyone!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Precision work</td></tr>
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Nicole, Johanna and I have been getting our hair cuts at the same salon since we got here. Finding someone new to cut your hair, even when you speak the same language can include lots of trial and error. However, when Johanna wanted a hair cut right before Christmas we didn't have any choice but to find someone new. The shop we usually go to was open, but our hairdresser, a Turkish fellow was, according to his mom, in Canakkale with his son at the doctor's office. (When I went back a week or so ago to get a hair cut, he was still absent.) <br />
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Anyway, we walked up the hill to another salon, I'd noticed sometime ago. They waved us in and got busy. Johanna brought a photo and got just the wash, cut and blow dry she wanted for the princely sum of CAD$7.50. There are two kinds of women's salon's in Turkey; many have big uncovered windows and at the other kind, the windows and doors are carefully covered, so you can't see what's going on inside. As I understand it, religious Muslim women don't allow men to cut their hair or see them with their hair uncovered, so the shuttered shops allow them some privacy. <br />
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I have reached that exciting age where I need glasses to read most days. I was so excited when I was at home in Canada over the summer to discover a pair of readers for C$5.00 on sale at Canadian Tire. Unfortunately, they were my one and only pair so when I broke them before Christmas I was annoyed. Cam and his English/Turkish speaking colleague took me into a shop selling eye glasses and I took the prescription for readers that my eye doc in Canada had given me in July. I don't usually buy prescription readers, but the glasses shop doesn't sell readers so this was the next best thing. The downside is that the glasses with frames new lenses and special tint for computer work cost CAD$60.00 - way more than generic Canadian Tire readers are at full price, but way less than prescription readers would be at home.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clean windows - no fear</td></tr>
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<br />Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-90572528016850576092015-12-30T17:41:00.000+02:002016-01-09T17:48:28.995+02:00Bozcaada - Tenedos<div style="text-align: center;">
December 27th we headed out for a week* of adventure. We started with a ferry from Gelibolu to Lapseki and then travelled nearly an hour south to Geyikili. At Geyikili after a long wait we caught one of three daily Gestas** ferries to the island of Bozcaada. as the family travel planner and booking agent, I wasn't surprised by the view from the ferry, but I still thought it was a "WOW".</div>
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The arrival of the ferry caused a mini rush hour at the harbour and of course that was the moment our mostly uncooperative new Garmin GPS choose to completely lose its mind and quit transmitting. Thankfully one of our back seaters pointed out that we were right behind a taxi displaying the name of our hotel. So in a Turkish version of "follow that car", we tailed the taxi until he parked near a construction site on a dead end street. Getting out, we discovered the driver was also our host at the hotel and the hotel was in fact steps away.</div>
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Parking in front of the hotel meant we would have to make two turns down tiny lanes which would have been fine if we were driving something smaller than the X-Trail, maybe a Mini or a Smart Car. Anyway our host found us a better place to park, far from the drift of construction debris and only a couple of short blocks on cobbled streets from our hotel.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We didn't do much more than nap, take a walk and eat supper the day we arrived. Oh and I had to find the ATMs so I could get enough Turkish Lira to pay our hotel bill in cash. I booked with booking.com which said the hotel would take credit cards but small private hoteliers prefer cash.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cam is tall. Bamboo is taller.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The next day after a deluxe Turkish breakfast in the "garden" of the hotel, a small walled patio outside the kitchen, we went for a drive.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With all the talk of refugees in small boats, I was rather distressed to find this torn raft, PFD and a couple of very small mismatched shoes on an otherwise deserted beach.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up the hill we found a monastery converted into a restaurant. It's a beautiful site with amazing views. We explored and rested and enjoyed the sunshine and the view.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam found a bunch of dry leaves to crunch through. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole, Cam and Sam listened to Johanna who narrated all the things she found over the embankment in the overgrowth of shrubs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing vistas - everybody got a picture!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then I turned around and saw a trail leading up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at the top of trail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These houses near our parking spot seemed deserted, but laundry moved on and off the line. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fortress of Bozcaada</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Fortress of Bozcaada has been in existence since Venetians were in the area in 1464 and perhaps earlier. The island was under Roman rule from 133 BC.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">Turkish "castles" and fortifications are often nothing more than ruins due in part to their age, earthquakes and the incredible cost of upkeep. This one was a nice surprise. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5wd9CIhb-24/Vo9asUR9DII/AAAAAAAAEJ4/JgKCFFDTlK4/s1600/DSCN7361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5wd9CIhb-24/Vo9asUR9DII/AAAAAAAAEJ4/JgKCFFDTlK4/s400/DSCN7361.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The castle was renovated by the ministry of culture and tourism between 1965 and 1970. This period was the most recent period of Greek emigration from the island. It wasn't until 1990 that foreigners were allowed to visit the island.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bozcaada from the fortress.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These were the only others at the fortress the day we visited.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3tMGBIgFoVU/Vo9bCXYA-TI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/lWyYJ-wRrG8/s1600/DSCN7364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3tMGBIgFoVU/Vo9bCXYA-TI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/lWyYJ-wRrG8/s400/DSCN7364.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know how many photos I have of Johanna on top of things - but it must be a lot!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Later we walked the town. Local jams and wines are for sale. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;">When the Turks come to town ... eventually entrance to your Greek Orthodox church is barred.<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenedos" target="_blank">Here's the wiki link to the history of this island and their Greek inhabitants.</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine's a big deal on this island. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sack of potatoes anyone?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harbour (Palm Trees)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of fishing boats in the harbour. </td></tr>
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One last story: We had supper at the same place on the harbour the first night and the last night we were in Bozcaada. The first night we saw a man come into the restaurant with a whole fish in a plastic grocery bag. He ended up in the kitchen. The second night, the same thing happened, but this time I paid attention. It wasn't long until the same man walked past the restaurant towards the fishing boats docked on the harbour. This time he had no fish, but grocery bags and a six pack. The fish is fresh and local and fishers are paid in cash.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>* Sadly our week away was cut short because of cancelled ferry sailings to Gokceada. The weather took a turn on December 30, so instead of trading one island for another we came home.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>**Just a note about Gestas's website. Good Luck! Yes they do have an English page but you're better off translating the Turkish site with Google Translate or better yet get a native Turk to interpret or phone. The folks who answer the phone have just enough English to tell you they don't speak English. If you've got a little Turkish, you'll make out okay. </i></span></div>
Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-25096132526535112332015-12-05T14:29:00.000+02:002015-12-05T14:29:59.592+02:00Happy Anniversary Sort OfFour years ago, today, we arrived at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, dazed and slightly exhausted from a fabulous week in London. Upon arrival, we scrambled to board a second flight and travel to Ankara where we applied for residence permits. <br />
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Today, we got out of bed in time to meet a Turkish speaking colleague of Cam's in Gelibolu. He helped us get passport style photos so that we can once again apply for residence permits. <br />
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We've been through this process a few times, but have been mostly isolated from the paperwork and bureaucracy. There is a manager and an office brimming with lawyers who handle the fine print. All we've had to do is provide copies of our documents, get our photos taken, sign some forms, have a criminal records check and get our address confirmed by the local municipal office. Whew!<br />
<br />Today reminded me of that first time four years ago, when it all seemed like a grand adventure. Today, it was just an item to cross off on the "to do list"; somewhere between breakfast and going to the bank.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 2011 Saros<br />Nicole, Sam and Johanna exploring</td></tr>
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<br />Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-16175758947849747402015-12-05T13:19:00.001+02:002015-12-05T13:19:51.830+02:00How to ride a donkey<div style="text-align: center;">
We've lived here four years and in that time I've seen a lot of sights which have amazed and surprised me. I keep thinking at some point, I'll be as oblivious as the people around me. </div>
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We went to Gelibolu this morning to get groceries. The kids and I walked from the Pazaar to Kipa and saw this gentleman crossing the four lane road on his donkey.</div>
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You should notice than there is traffic. He is sitting side saddle and what he has in his right hand is not reins but a riding crop which he uses on the side of the donkey's head to turn it left or right. For our farm friends notice that he is wearing pretty nice shoes, a suit jacket and a dress shirt.</div>
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-84185132748920029662015-11-08T21:36:00.000+02:002015-11-08T21:36:01.713+02:00Firing RangeI've written about the Turkish Navy using the two islands in the Saros for target practice before.<br />
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Tonight after supper (in the dark) while Nicole was outside taking her laundry off the line, I heard the local pack of feral dogs barking and someone firing a hand gun. They fired it 6 or 7 times. I don't know if they were shooting because the dogs were barking or the dogs were barking because of the shooting. Either is an equally valid possibility in this place.<br />
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In the spring and summer, the son of one of our neighbours fires his gun into the ocean, usually after we've already been in bed and asleep for a couple of hours. I am not sure if you ever really get used to being awakened by gun fire.<br />
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Nicole came in a few minutes after we heard the last shot. The dogs are still carrying on at the far end of the village. I haven't heard anymore shots, but then I am not in bed yet either.<br />
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<br />Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-51849301481847192222015-10-21T17:26:00.001+03:002015-10-21T17:44:56.488+03:00Octopuses! Buckets! Oh My!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have this… personality quirk that makes me dive headlong
into things before I think about them. <br />
The latest of these episodes involved an octopus; Sam and I were outside,
looking at the water when he spotted the beastie. As the creature was not far
from shore, I immediately turned tail and ran for my fish net and rubber boots.
On my way back out the door I collected
a four gallon bucket as well.<br />
I knew almost immediately upon entering the water that I was going to get my
feet wet. The octopus was juuuust out of the range of my boots. I rolled up my pant legs and continued my
careful wading until I was close enough to try and scoop/herd the octopus into
the bucket with my net. <br />
The octopus, not pleased at being disturbed, let loose a cloud of ink and disappeared.
It was a very exciting few seconds because he did two things, he splashed me
with ink, & he quickly changed directions and came <i>towards</i> me.<br />
I might have yelled.<br />
A little bit. <br />
In my mind, there two categories of sea
creatures: those who rely on speed to survive, and those that rely on camouflage.
Octopuses rely on the latter, but it wasn’t long before I spotted him again,
slowly squishing himself under a rock. Determined to catch him, I tried again
and managed to scoop him into the bucket. <br />
This isn't the first time we've seen octopuses in the bay, Johanna and I first spotted one a few years ago when we were wading. Throughout the year we see divers with harpoons hunting them and other sea creatures. The other week Dad spotted some men who were fishing for pleasure and had caught an octopus. If I'd wanted to I could have taken my octopus to Gelibolu and sold him to one of the fish restaurants. </div>
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Throughout the time I had him in the
bucket, my octopus tried to escape – you’ll
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<a href="https://youtu.be/uyZhQWIaWUw" target="_blank">link to video</a><br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uyZhQWIaWUw/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uyZhQWIaWUw?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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- Nicole</div>
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<i><br />(Picture cred: Mom or Dad)</i></div>
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Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11070472154758646054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-82017086834862628532015-05-31T09:51:00.000+03:002015-05-31T09:51:00.739+03:00May 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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May had been an interesting month. The weather is lovely one day and cool and rainy the next. The turtles and snakes are out and about in the neighbourhood. The giant black King bees and swallows are flitting about too. The cherry tree across the back lane bloomed and so did our rose bushes. Lawn mowing has turned into a weekly necessity. The canola has bloomed and there are some fields of grain just about ready for harvest. The rice fields on the peninsula have been planted and flooded too. (photos below)<br />
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Nicole finished her volunteer work at the English school mid month. The owner of the school invited us in for tea and cake and to say good bye this week. She wanted some insight into our plans for the fall. If Nicole and I wanted full time jobs, I think we could easily have them. Cam's work was a little bit busier with the annual holiday lead up panic from his bosses. We spent a 4 day weekend across the Marmara at Assos. (See photos below) to celebrate my birthday. Cam located the Russian monument in Gelibolu after two years of looking. (more photos) We spent a day with a Canadian couple, friends of company management,who were on vacation in Turkey. They have lived in a variety of countries from Borneo to Colombia, so they had interesting stories to tell. Our experiences of life away from home have been very similar. Nicole and Sam wrapped up their school courses this month and as the month closes we're all getting ready to pack for our annual leave.<br />
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White Russians fled Russian between 1917 and 1920 as a result of the revolution. Some came to Gelibolu, Turkey. There is a fascinating collection of photographs of Gelibolu and the Russians refugees as well as long lists of Russians at this site.<br />
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The monument is fenced and the grounds are only open to the public some days. The monument is located south of Kipa on a dead end residential street. Put the latitude and longitude into your GPS and you should be able to drive right to it! (N40.414733 E26.662709)<br />
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For my birthday this year, Cam took us to Assos/Behramkale for a few days. It was lovely and warm and the scenery was spectacular.</div>
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Assos is the name of the ancient pre-Roman town that included a hill top Athena Temple, Roman theatre, agora and harbour. There are also some ruined Byzantine era churches on the hillside. There is limited access to the sites and to be honest not a great deal to see - except the amazing feats of engineering and rock moving!<br />
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Arches on either side of the theatre used to lead to the seats, but are now blocked off. Sam's grown a little but this still isn't very spacious.<br />
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This port at Assos, down the hill from the theatre, was the one Paul, the Apostle. used to get a boat to Lesvos (Acts 20). Lesvos or Lesbos is a large Greek island. There is limited ferry service from Turkey, but you can get ferries to the island from mainland Greece.<br />
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Assos Harbour<br />
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We drove around the area for a bit. In one flatish spot outside a village we happened upon a few of these stone structures.<br />
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I went for a closer look and discovered they weren't empty!<br />
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They were full of sheep trying to stay cool.<br />
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We stayed cool in the hotel's pool.<br />
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A village oven.</div>
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Asso - Athena Temple<br />
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Cistern near the temple.<br />
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The Temple of Appolon Smintheus (Lord of the Mice) is located beside the town of Gulpinar.(Gulpinar is about 30 minutes from Behramkale) As usual signs are rare, but we only had to ask for directions once. The site is enormous and has signs in English and Turkish The ruins include the temple, (Photos above and below), a bath house and a section of Roman road. <a href="http://www.timeout.com/travel/features/1391/troy-story-r-spending-and-finding-a-penny-inside-apollos-temple">http://www.timeout.com/travel/features/1391/troy-story-r-spending-and-finding-a-penny-inside-apollos-temple</a><br />
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We had a bite of lunch at the "cafe" next door. They had running water and toilets! The fellow who served us followed us to the car to ask where we were from and to compliment Cam on his Turkish.<br />
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Cam drove a very scary narrow winding coastal road to get us to Babakale. The town is located on a cape which is the most westerly point on the continent of Asia. Its refurbished clifftop castle overlooks the Aegean.<br />
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We just about had the place to ourselves until a bunch of rowdy school boys arrived with their two "minders". The boys jumped from spot to spot and raced around the ramparts in herds. Like most Turkish sites, there are no "safety measures" (guardrails, fences etc), just a sheer drop of some tens of feet to rocky ground below. <br />
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The view from the ramparts.</div>
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After the castle, we went for ice cream right next door and sat in the shade of the castle wall. As we left the little tea garden area, a waitress offered us certificates commemorating our visit to the village and the most Westerly part of Asia.<br />
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On May 11 I took a few pictures of the rice fields being flooded. When we drove by two days ago (May 29), the rice was already growing above the water level.<br />
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The rest of these photos I took while I waiting for Nicole to come from the English school. There is an area in the centre of the Gelibolu where there are no cars allowed. (but watch out for garbage trucks, scooters, motorcycles, delivery vans and occasionally truck mounted cranes.) <br />
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On the left, the video store. On the right the candy store - with an ice cream cooler out front. None of these stores have central heating and most have no a/c. If the door is ajar the shop is open for business. It's not unusual to go into a shop and find no one else there. The clerk will follow you through the door a few minutes later, because they've been lounging outside or chatting with friends nearby.<br />
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Women dress in a variety of ways. We occasionally see women in burqas with niqabs, but more often women wear head scarves and long coats. In our area, I think most women dress without demonstrating any sort of religious affiliation.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="text-align: center;">There are lots of benches in the area. The flags are for various political parties. </span><span style="text-align: center;">There is a national election in Turkey June 7.</span></div>
Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-77759323393543817352015-05-27T16:32:00.001+03:002015-05-27T16:38:50.313+03:00Fabric at the market<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-57yw5yh2OWY/VWXHhverZYI/AAAAAAAAGBM/VwEa_Qlw73c/s400/blogger-image-251293163.jpg" style="text-decoration: underline;" width="400" /></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Going to the Tuesday market is a bit of a treat (for
me at least) because it's bigger and as a result, has a larger variety of
vendors. One of my favourite tables sells fabric remnants. I love to
sew, so it's probably no surprise that I find it enormously fun to dig
through tangled mounds of fabric.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">It can be quite frustrating though, you can never find
the same fabric twice, and you can't always find (enough of) what you want. I
guess that's what makes it so interesting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">For the past few weeks I've been looking for a
certain fabric for one of my cosplays. Today I finally found it, it even looks
to be about the right size (double score!!); I also found some blue fabric that
I really love. All together it's probably about five or six meters of fabric, I
hope you can imagine how excited I was when my purchases came to a grant total
of 6TL or $3 Canadian. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Living here is not totally bad. ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">- Nicole <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11070472154758646054noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-27734100328973041722015-05-06T20:10:00.000+03:002015-05-06T20:10:53.301+03:00The Russian Monument Mystery - Now SolvedCheck out the blog post for May 2015 to see my photos of this monument in Gelibolu.<br />
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When we arrived in Turkey we had the benefit of a translator/tour guide. One one of our excursions together, he told us that there was a "new" Russian monument in Gelibolu. He gave us a vague idea where he thought it was located, but none of us could figure out why there might be a Russian monument in Turkey; that is until I recently found these two articles on line. So that solved the mystery of why but we still haven't located the monument. We've checked out a couple of cemeteries and explored some back streets but so far no luck. We could ask someone who lives in Gelibolu, but chances are they wouldn't know either.<br />
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<a href="http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2008/5engallipoli2.html" target="_blank">http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2008/5engallipoli2.html</a><br />
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<img src="http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/pictures/paschagraphic08.jpg" height="171" width="317" /></div>
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<span style="color: red;">PARIS: May 29, 2008<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Communique of the Society of the Descendants of Gallipoli</strong> </span></span></div>
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<strong>THE RESTORATION OF THE MONUMENT TO THE HEROES OF THE WHITE MOVEMENT OF GALLIPOLI</strong></div>
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<u>History</u>:</div>
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In November, 1920, after the
evacuation of Crimea, parts of the White Movement crossed the Bosphorus
on 126 ships and arrived in Constantinople.</div>
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The soldiers were then assigned
to various temporary camps in Turkey. On November 22, the first parts
of the First Army Corps of the Russian Volunteer Army under General
Kutepov landed on the northern (European) coast of the Dardanelles
(now Gelibolu). Other portions of the military found hospice in other
places, the Cossacks on the Isle of Lemnos, while the Navy went to the
port of Bizert, Tunis. </div>
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The First Corps of the White
Army broke camp in Gallipoli by regiment (including the Drozdov Division
and the Alexeev Regiment), in a wide hardscrabble plain, where they
remained from November 1920 until mid-1923. In 1923, the last White
Army soldiers left Gallipoli. During the entire duration of their
stay, the Army retained its weapons and stayed with their attachments:
this period became known as the Gallipoli Standing. There were some
150,000 persons in exile, in Gallipoli and other places.</div>
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On November 15, 1921, a year
after landing on the peninsula, Commander-in-Chief General Baron Wrangel
had a medal minted to honor the <em>podvig</em> of the Russians of Gallipoli. A week later, the Gallipoli Society was organized.</div>
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On July 16, 1921, a monument
was ceremoniously unveiled in the Gallipoli cemetery to honor the
fallen warriors and civilians of Gallipoli buried there. The memorial
took the form of a stepped pyramid, built by the people of Gallipoli,
each placing his own stone by hand. </div>
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The monument survived under the
oversight of the local Turkish population until 1949, when it was
destroyed in an earthquake. In 1961, the Gallipoli Society built a
smaller replica of the monument in the Russian cemetery of
Sainte-Genevieve-du-Bois near Paris.</div>
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<u>The Restoration of the Monument</u></div>
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<u><img align="right" src="http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/pictures/5gallipoli2_1.jpg" height="199" hspace="16" vspace="4" width="299" /></u>In
2008, at the initiative of private individuals in Russia and with the
help of the Russian Government, the monument was restored in its
original form and ceremoniously unveiled on May 17. A plot of land was
dedicated for it surrounded by a fence, and a memorial museum
containing photographs, pictures and a <em>krasniy ugol</em> ["beautiful corner" with icons].</div>
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Representatives of the Russian
Diaspora were invited to the unveiling ceremony: members of the Society
of the Descendants of Gallipoli, who brought with them a painted icon
of St Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia the Miracle-worker, the
Protector of the White Army. The icon bears the following
inscription:</div>
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"To the glorious people
of Gallipoli, the heroes of the White Army and all the warriors who
laid down their lives for the Homeland, tortured and killed in the
time of troubles and to those who died in peace, Eternal Memory!
Glory and honor to the Knights of Gallipoli! You shall always be our
pride! The children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the
People of Gallipoli, 17-05-2008."</div>
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<a href="http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/pictures/5gallipoli2_2.jpg"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/pictures/5gallipoli2_2.jpg" height="228" hspace="14" vspace="6" width="150" /></a>A
delegation of 30 descendants of the people of Gallipoli attended the
opening. The icon and monument were unveiled on May 17, 2008, in the
presence of His Grace Bishop Michael of Geneva and Western Europe and
His Grace Bishop Mark of Egoriev. A male choir from among the
descendants of the Russians of Gallipoli sang at the opening and
pannikhida that followed under the wonderful direction of Andrei
Konstantinovich Malinin.</div>
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<a href="http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/pictures/5gallipoli2_3.jpg"><img align="right" border="0" src="http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/pictures/5gallipoli2_3.jpg" height="229" hspace="16" vspace="4" width="151" /></a>After the pannikhida, the icon was taken in a procession of the cross under the singing of <em>Christ is Risen</em>
to the icon corner of the museum and placed their on an analogion with
a burning lampada and lit candle. After the prayers, the choir sang
the Hymn of the White Army, <em>Kol' Slaven</em> [Glory to Our God].</div>
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The following day, the
delegation was invited to a reception and concert with dinner at the
Russian Consulate in Istanbul, where the Russian Consul and his wife
warmly welcomed them.</div>
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During dinner, the President of
the SDG, Alexei Pavlovich Grigoriev, gave a speech thanking the
organizations participating in the reestablishment of the monument, the
members of the Russian Diplomatic Corps, the clergymen of the Russian
Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
He expressed the notion that it is the fervent love for Russian
imparted to us by our fathers and grandfathers that unites us
spiritually and binds us to the citizens of the Russian Federation,
who are seeking our common roots and our common history. The
delegation then sang the <em>Alexeev Regiment March</em>, after which
the Vice President of the SDG, Maria Nikolaevna Apraksina, daughter of
the Personal Secretary of General Wrangel, NM Kotliarevsky, also
expressed her thanks and shared her personal memories of the figures
of the White Movement in the diaspora.</div>
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So a monument to the White
Warriors of Gallipoli stands again, and one can once again pray for them
and light a candle to their protector, St Nicholas. </div>
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Glory to God!</div>
<div align="justify">
<em>Sergei S Tarasov</em><br />
<em>President, French Department of the<br />
</em><em>Society of the Descendants of Gallipoli<br />
</em><em>Paris, May 22, 2008</em></div>
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<a href="http://www.turkey.mid.ru/hron/pr_e_07.html" target="_blank">http://www.turkey.mid.ru/hron/pr_e_07.html</a><br />
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OPENING OF MONUMENT OF RUSSIAN SOLDIERS IN GELIBOLU</h1>
The ceremonial unveiling of a commemorative monument in memory of
Russian soldiers died and buried in 1920-s was held in Gelibolu on May
17. The monument in Gelibolu was restored with the assistance of
St.Andrew’s Fund – the Center of National
Glory of Russia, and supported by the Russian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the Russian diplomatic missions in Turkey in cooperation with
the Turkish authorities.<br />
The Russian delegation headed by the Chairmen of the Trustee Council
of the Center of National Glory V.I.Yakunin took part in the ceremony.
The artists, writers, historians, descendents of Gelibolu settlement
arrived to pay homage to memory of
Russian officers and soldiers. The musical accompaniment was arranged by
the orchestra of the Moscow military-musical school and the Turkish
military orchestra of Mehter.<br />
The Chairmen of the Trustee Council of the Center of National Glory
V.I.Yakunin marked the symbolism of the White Army monument’s opening in
the first anniversary of the reunion of the Russian Orthodox Church. He
said this monument is a time
machine restoring the connection with the past and an instrument for
healing wounds of the country, inflicted by the hardships.<br />
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian
Federation in the Republic of Turkey V.I.Ivanovskiy underlined the
monument’s opening is a tribute in memory of our fellow countrymen, died
in the difficult times of the Russian
history of the XX century. He highlighted the efforts of the Russian
diplomats and the Center of National Glory in the monument’s
restoration.<br />
The Turkish representatives – the first deputy Minister of culture
and tourism, the governor of Canakkale, the mayor of Gelibolu – said
that the opening of the monument reinforces the tight and friendly
relations between Russia and Turkey.<br />
In conclusion of the ceremony the Bishop of Geneva and Western Europe
Mikhail and the Bishop of George Mark served the service for the dead.<br />
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-43107475499569474452015-04-30T09:45:00.000+03:002015-05-06T20:00:41.378+03:00April 2015<div>
Cam had to stop at the cargo office in Gelibolu to pick up a package. Sitting on the passenger side of the vehicle, I saw something different out my window. So when Cam jumped out to get his package, Nicole and Sam and I walked back up the street to have a look and snap a couple of photos.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A goat tied up outside of a paint store.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KkCRODmcSc8/VUcNrcd-OtI/AAAAAAAAD_U/qfIKVakYLX8/s1600/DSCN9446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KkCRODmcSc8/VUcNrcd-OtI/AAAAAAAAD_U/qfIKVakYLX8/s1600/DSCN9446.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's kind of cute. It was still there a week later, but the last time we were by there it wasn't. Hopefully it has moved on to greener pastures.</td></tr>
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While we were snapping the photos, I glanced across the street and saw one of my English students, and a former teacher from the English school walking down the street together. We crossed the street and I received a "Turkish style" greeting from both men (a kiss on both cheeks). This was disconcerting - much too familiar for my liking but "When in Rome ..." Afterwards, I was just grateful they didn't use the "hand kiss, forehead to hand" gesture which shows respect for the elderly!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole and her first turtle of spring!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bus shelter.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam sitting in the bus shelter.<br />
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Cam had to work out of the house for most of a week in mid April, which interfered with his chauffeuring duties. As it turned out we only had to take "the" bus into town once in order to get Nicole to her volunteer job at the language school.<br />
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There has been road improvement going on throughout our time on the Peninsula. Last fall, the road was widened near the entrance to our village and a large metal bus shelter was erected. Sadly it was only a few weeks until a storm blew the all metal shelter off the road and into the ditch. A few weeks later it was lifted back onto the road, but as you can see it happened again - only this time, no one has bothered to return it to the road. <br />
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Because cars, insurance and road tax are costly, bus travel is very good in Turkey. When we take "the" bus into Gelibolu we walk up to the highway and stand so the buses headed in the direction we want to go can see us. Many little villages have a 15 or 20 passenger bus which keeps a regular bus schedule past our door and if they have room they will pull over and pick us up. Right now a one way ticket (paid at the destination) from our door to Gelibolu is 5 TL. We've also been picked up by larger coach style buses which connect larger cities. The return trip is just a case of standing in the right spot and flagging down the bus you want - except on Saturdays when we waited two hours and finally called Cam for a rescue on his lunch break.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A warship in the Gelibolu harbour.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mevlevihanesi - We got a look inside this unique building - the worship location for the Sufi religion.</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Sam's basketball finished for the season on April 19. By the final weekend, there was just one other boy coming to practice (Meilei) and they'd changed the time from an afternoon practice to a morning practice so that the coach could teach Sam and Meilei as well as a group of little players.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meilei, Sam and K<b>emal Mustafa Ataturk (the founder of modern Turkey)</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a rest and watching the younger children practice.</td></tr>
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My sewing machine has gotten quite a work out in the last year. Nicole has been sewing a great deal and I've completed a few projects too. When it developed some sort of electrical problem in the last six months or so Nicole and I were wondering if we'd have to live without it. Thankfully Cam diagnosed the problem and tried, with the help of a colleague, to get parts for a repair. When that didn't work, the colleague, found a Pfaff repair shop 90 minutes from us in Tekirdag. So this month we made two trips to Tekirdag, the first to drop off the machine and the second to bring it home. For about $60 Canadian, the technician (who used to work for Levi's in Germany), repaired the problem with solder, replaced a bulb, adjusted the tension and sold me two packages of machine needles and 10 bobbins. I put the sewing machine to use last week and it works perfectly. Yeah!</div>
Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-80955030504624976332015-04-19T08:21:00.000+03:002015-04-25T08:03:07.630+03:00Gelibolu Melevihanesi or How the Murray's Crashed Mohammad's Birthday Celebartion<div style="text-align: center;">
I saw this poster last Saturday - for an event at Gelibolu Melevihanesi on Sunday.</div>
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We've wanted a peak into this unique building since we discovered it. </div>
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So we went - and of course got it wrong!</div>
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A Melevihanesi lodge is the worship location for Sufi followers. We visited the birthplace of this mystic religion in Konya and watched a ceremony where the dervishes meditate or/pray by turning or whirling. Here's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FWp7wFY3R0" target="_blank">a link</a> to some of what you might expect to see at a dervish ceremony. (We respected the request not to take photos or video of the ceremony when we visited the Melevihanesi at Cappadocia, so this is someone else's video.)</div>
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We knew immediately upon entering the building that something else was going. There were chairs in the centre of the building where the dervishes would usually meditate. We were greeted by a man who gave us each a rolled up piece of coloured paper with a small candy attached. The papers each had a different verse from the Koran written in Turkish. We could smell food cooking.We sat as near the back as possible. The band came in eventually and played a single song and then an older man with a white beard came in and sat down behind a table at the front. <br />
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There was no introductions but a man began to pass a microphone among people in the crowd who asked questions of the white-bearded man. The crowd of mostly women and children, listened without reacting - no visible signs of agreement, or disapproval and no applause.. My Turkish is just good enough to understand words and some phrases. I listened hard, especially when one of the questions concerned jihad, but I came away none the wiser. Even after the Q&A started there was a continuous ebb and flow of people through the doors, so we didn't make a spectacle of ourselves when we left after an hour.<br />
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From our translation of the poster before we went, we knew that it was a birthday celebration, but not for whom. Rumi, the founder's birthday, is in September. After the fact we learned that it was a celebration of Mohammad's birthday. On the upside we did get a peak inside.<br />
<br />Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-30051790500121409372015-03-31T14:21:00.000+03:002015-04-30T15:03:00.455+03:00March 2015 - The day before we left for Amsterdam, a crew set up scaffolding around our house and delivered insulation panels. <div>
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In February, our neighbour began looking for an apartment to rent or buy in Gelibolu. She happened to meet the real estate agent who helped broker the deal, for this house, between us, Cam's employer and our landlord in 2011. She told him that we were thinking of moving to Gelibolu because our house was cold. </div>
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This was a bit of over dramatized wishful thinking on our neighbour's part, but it does demonstrate the nature of communication here. So the next thing we know our landlord is arranging to insulate and paint the house in addition to arranging the repair of the retaining wall that broke in a winter storm. He also offered to have the interior painted as well. We declined this offer, because of the mess and disruption it would cause; although after nearly four years the inside needs painting and some plaster work rather badly.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearing completion - insulation installed, plastering complete, trim installed and painted green.<br />We were told the work would take two weeks. It took a lot longer than that. The crew left most of the clean up to us and still haven't been back to reinstall the awning, the clothes line or any of the outside lights.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam and I cleaned up the rubble at the bottom of the stairs<br />and yes that's paint on the door and no I can't get it off I've tried.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Saturday while they were painting the other gate we got to weave through this to get our groceries into the house.</td></tr>
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<br />Having the workmen in the yard for most of a month made us all very unhappy. It wasn't bad enough that it was difficult to get in and out of the yard, but they were outside every window so we felt either trapped because the blinds were drawn or exposed; like zoo animals. </div>
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Cam was busy with meetings this month, but organized his schedule around, basketball, my teaching commitments and Nicole's work in the language school's pre-school classroom. </div>
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Sam went back to basketball after we got home from Amsterdam, Classes were 60-90 minutes Saturday and Sunday each week. Cam ferried Nicole and I around on Saturdays so we could grocery shop while Sam practiced and Sunday's Cam watched the practice.This photo is from February - that tall guy in the blue t-shirt is Sam.</div>
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One weekend, there was no basketball, because the gym was being used to process a boat load of Syrian refugees who had been apprehended in Turkish waters.</div>
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<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/13/mideast-crisis-turkey-refugees-idUSL5N0WF2SL20150313" target="_blank">http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/13/mideast-crisis-turkey-refugees-idUSL5N0WF2SL20150313</a></div>
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I taught my last two ESL classes in March. Cam had resorted to coming with me to the classes rather than waiting in the car. I worked exclusively with adults and enjoyed it immensely, although like any job there were frustrations when lessons were planned and students were late or failed to attend. </div>
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Nicole continued to volunteer in the language school's preschool classroom one afternoon each week.</div>
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I've been crocheting a lot and sewing this year. We discovered that Nicole's bed skirt had been water damaged from the continual damp in her bedroom, so in addition to making a "Downton Abbey" style apron from a pattern I brought from home, I also made a little apron from the undamaged parts of her bed skirt. Nicole and I had a fun little photo shoot.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love that laugh!</td></tr>
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-85053437706928723732015-03-08T13:15:00.000+02:002015-04-30T13:15:59.028+03:00March 2015 -- Amsterdam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: center;">This blog post has been a long time coming.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">March was a long month and started off with a 4 day trip to Amsterdam. Cam was invited to tour a facility there and he in turn invited us to tag along. So what could have been an overnight trip for Cam turned into a long weekend away for all of us. (I'll just say up front, it was very weird to be seeing and doing without Johanna sharing our adventures - but she was having her own adventures in Canada.)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fW88i5MaWJs/VRjdxhdNoeI/AAAAAAAADzg/6S4BmdVq5Q8/s1600/DSCN9150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fW88i5MaWJs/VRjdxhdNoeI/AAAAAAAADzg/6S4BmdVq5Q8/s1600/DSCN9150.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The palace on Dam Square. (Nicole in particular got a kick out of saying "Let's go to the "Dam Square".)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7xYqiRt-yg/VRjdycSLeuI/AAAAAAAADzk/xFNTS9kPgdo/s1600/DSCN9152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O7xYqiRt-yg/VRjdycSLeuI/AAAAAAAADzk/xFNTS9kPgdo/s1600/DSCN9152.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sign says Dam Good Coffee - but Nicole was excited to see giant jars of Nutella!</td></tr>
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Our first stop after Dam Square was the Rijksmuseum. I read somewhere that </div>
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Amsterdam has more museums than any other European city. We only went to one.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbBS6UY4m-o/VRjeLWgel1I/AAAAAAAAD0E/IwY-OQO4ImQ/s1600/DSCN9158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BbBS6UY4m-o/VRjeLWgel1I/AAAAAAAAD0E/IwY-OQO4ImQ/s1600/DSCN9158.JPG" height="224" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was a teenager when I first saw a photo of this painting "Night Watch" by Rembrandt. <br />
I was very excited to see it in person.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e7-SAXZV2Pk/VRjeJw7v_KI/AAAAAAAADz4/XBbeYfiAQ5E/s1600/DSCN9159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e7-SAXZV2Pk/VRjeJw7v_KI/AAAAAAAADz4/XBbeYfiAQ5E/s1600/DSCN9159.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are communion cups! Super size me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NrJ58vHmw00/VRjeKxUr0VI/AAAAAAAAD0A/U95VKzGDB5Y/s1600/DSCN9162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NrJ58vHmw00/VRjeKxUr0VI/AAAAAAAAD0A/U95VKzGDB5Y/s1600/DSCN9162.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a paint box - with our painter in the back ground!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern art</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8I7fv4SIWas/VRjeoWoQvEI/AAAAAAAAD0Y/BsUnAQ66eSE/s1600/DSCN9177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8I7fv4SIWas/VRjeoWoQvEI/AAAAAAAAD0Y/BsUnAQ66eSE/s1600/DSCN9177.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole found Mr. van Gogh's brush strokes needed closer inspection.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_h2Uc3R_UUQ/VRjeoUht7HI/AAAAAAAAD0c/kIHwB-Eh_n0/s1600/DSCN9180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_h2Uc3R_UUQ/VRjeoUht7HI/AAAAAAAAD0c/kIHwB-Eh_n0/s1600/DSCN9180.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I learned that Napoleon helped standardize weights and measures across Europe. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1YZlGOlt7o/VRje7q98o1I/AAAAAAAAD0o/wmwzSuG2T1k/s1600/DSCN9193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E1YZlGOlt7o/VRje7q98o1I/AAAAAAAAD0o/wmwzSuG2T1k/s1600/DSCN9193.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back at Dam Square we watched a performance of break dancing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYEHWZpwwSU/VRjfAP7knyI/AAAAAAAAD00/Crgc2fHWdFc/s1600/DSCN9194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYEHWZpwwSU/VRjfAP7knyI/AAAAAAAAD00/Crgc2fHWdFc/s1600/DSCN9194.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We enjoyed a tour of the canals by boat. I was surprised by the number of house boats moored along the canals.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2woLglhUFjE/VRje_zoCfvI/AAAAAAAAD0w/GOHABHmTw68/s1600/DSCN9199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2woLglhUFjE/VRje_zoCfvI/AAAAAAAAD0w/GOHABHmTw68/s1600/DSCN9199.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We should have rented the hotel's bicycles and saved our poor feet!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jhyaDQcP1I/VRjfZe6wJiI/AAAAAAAAD1A/FD1M2I6NYq8/s1600/DSCN9200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jhyaDQcP1I/VRjfZe6wJiI/AAAAAAAAD1A/FD1M2I6NYq8/s1600/DSCN9200.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saw a few of these decorative signs on old buildings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rokJR4Tw908/VRjfbZb5zuI/AAAAAAAAD1M/88flG8lkfBk/s1600/DSCN9205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rokJR4Tw908/VRjfbZb5zuI/AAAAAAAAD1M/88flG8lkfBk/s1600/DSCN9205.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of unique restaurants! This one is vegan Japanese and Caribbean.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hATqDkILG5U/VRjfa8fl2hI/AAAAAAAAD1I/kIrh2X3IDms/s1600/DSCN9201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hATqDkILG5U/VRjfa8fl2hI/AAAAAAAAD1I/kIrh2X3IDms/s1600/DSCN9201.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting outside our hotel for Rolf, Cam's business contact kindly spent a day showing us around<br />
We didn't choose the hotel, but it had a good breakfast, and was centrally located. On the downside, we were a<br />
couple of floors from the kids, the rooms were tiny and the lighting was poor.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Zaanse Schans:</span></b><br />
http://www.dezaanseschans.nl/en/<br />
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Rolf took us first to Zaanse Schans which is a bit like an historical village, except people live and work there.<br />
The first thing we noticed was the amazing smell from the chocolate factory nearby. Mmm!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nI8M4TOAM1A/VRjfy7tOUmI/AAAAAAAAD1Y/tzEUb7ZmHII/s1600/DSCN9208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nI8M4TOAM1A/VRjfy7tOUmI/AAAAAAAAD1Y/tzEUb7ZmHII/s1600/DSCN9208.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handmade shoe making demo - for the tourists.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_H4ZbfPcMQw/VRjf1dKkEJI/AAAAAAAAD1g/wblVJK4v3FQ/s1600/DSCN9212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_H4ZbfPcMQw/VRjf1dKkEJI/AAAAAAAAD1g/wblVJK4v3FQ/s1600/DSCN9212.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I tried some on - but they hurt my feet!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zhM4FyZ218o/VRjf2gJZnoI/AAAAAAAAD1k/NFUEI8vMYgM/s1600/DSCN9213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zhM4FyZ218o/VRjf2gJZnoI/AAAAAAAAD1k/NFUEI8vMYgM/s1600/DSCN9213.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam tried some on too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Z11zIJ2MHk/VTswUMBQWaI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/XttXjvk4V8c/s1600/DSCN9233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Z11zIJ2MHk/VTswUMBQWaI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/XttXjvk4V8c/s320/DSCN9233.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We walked along the canal.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7LqUTmbPkSg/VTskHphCmEI/AAAAAAAAD3g/s4eUZ7sJ_Mw/s1600/DSCN9245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7LqUTmbPkSg/VTskHphCmEI/AAAAAAAAD3g/s4eUZ7sJ_Mw/s1600/DSCN9245.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got to go inside a windmill, which I thought was really cool.<br />
The one we were in was grinding peanuts and producing peanut oil!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole watching the blades turn.</td></tr>
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Next Rolf took us to Volendam (fishing village) where we had lunch. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MxbJ3t2Zbu8/VTsk02yMzEI/AAAAAAAAD34/_Z_5yr7ksY0/s1600/DSCN9271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MxbJ3t2Zbu8/VTsk02yMzEI/AAAAAAAAD34/_Z_5yr7ksY0/s1600/DSCN9271.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch menu</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbJdWqSrGvM/VTsk6sUhWfI/AAAAAAAAD4A/kFNeZXOgnjo/s1600/DSCN9275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jbJdWqSrGvM/VTsk6sUhWfI/AAAAAAAAD4A/kFNeZXOgnjo/s1600/DSCN9275.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm! Kibblings! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JsjsQSWr0VU/VTskqzWUvEI/AAAAAAAAD3w/EQL_G4TGZs8/s1600/DSCN9270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JsjsQSWr0VU/VTskqzWUvEI/AAAAAAAAD3w/EQL_G4TGZs8/s1600/DSCN9270.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We also ate raw herring while we waited for the kibblings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Then we went to Marken by boat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The harbour at Marken.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marken was a delightful fishing village with canals and drawbridges. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People live and work here. There is access by car and by boat.<br />
There wasn't much open, but we walked around for a bit before Rolf took us back to the city.</td></tr>
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<b>Back in Amsterdam Central:</b></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(in no particular order)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower market ... too early for blooms but just right for bulbs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w1cIjyNuFTg/VTsm8HDw35I/AAAAAAAAD44/FrdO-ifvcnY/s1600/DSCN9330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w1cIjyNuFTg/VTsm8HDw35I/AAAAAAAAD44/FrdO-ifvcnY/s1600/DSCN9330.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iconic Amsterdam, cheese, bikes and slippers shaped like wooden shoes!<br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20.7999992370605px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Het</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Scheepvaartmuseum<i><br /></i></span><em style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; line-height: 20.7999992370605px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The National Maritime Museum</em></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">Sam outside the Maritime Museum<br />
It looks kind of dull on the outside, but they had fascinating displays.<br />
http://www.amsterdam.info/museums/netherlands_maritime_museum/</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Below deck, Sam is testing his strength by moving some crates.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This replica of a Dutch trader was great fun to explore!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking the plank ... into the ship!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_F0QYi9Q_I/VTsn7fpxI9I/AAAAAAAAD5g/T_0fgooMJNw/s1600/DSCN9372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_F0QYi9Q_I/VTsn7fpxI9I/AAAAAAAAD5g/T_0fgooMJNw/s1600/DSCN9372.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Captain's cabin - guess who is sleeping in his bed?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready, aim, FIRE!</td></tr>
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<b>Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum:</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is for Johanna! At Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum<br />
<a href="https://www.madametussauds.com/Amsterdam/en/">https://www.madametussauds.com/Amsterdam/en/</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GL-O_1e4LQ8/VTsyliSlpII/AAAAAAAAD6s/IiUtv77avQI/s1600/DSCN9396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GL-O_1e4LQ8/VTsyliSlpII/AAAAAAAAD6s/IiUtv77avQI/s1600/DSCN9396.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oprah getting ready to interview Nicole.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cam and Dame Edna</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam and Spiderman<br />
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I don't know what it was about Amsterdam, but it was the most exhausting trip. I was foot sore and cranky the whole time we were away. It didn't help that we got terrible directions a couple of times, so ended up walking a long way out of our way and still not finding what we were looking for. (Sorry Sam and Nicole!) Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-37722008970985633172015-02-28T08:57:00.002+02:002015-02-28T09:37:37.548+02:00February 2015<br />
For a short month we were really busy. Sam is still playing basketball twice each week. His physical condition has really improved and he's giving his teammates and trainers lots of opportunities to practice their English.<br />
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I'm still teaching English a couple of evenings a week. Work is slow for Cam, so he comes along most nights and provides another voice in the classroom. Nicole volunteers once each week in their pre-school room during English hour. She also had an opportunity to teach English to a grade four class and a grade 7 class this month. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water, water everywhere.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Demolition complete.</td></tr>
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Big news this month is the rebuilding of our retaining wall. They aren't finished yet, but the crew is making good progress. (see below) All the cement for this project is being hand mixed on the ground in the lane and transported by wheel barrow. All the rock is "recycled" from the old wall. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIve88NBN-I/VPFruo1wq6I/AAAAAAAADzE/pxxhOK5GTqs/s1600/DSCN9120%2B(800x600).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIve88NBN-I/VPFruo1wq6I/AAAAAAAADzE/pxxhOK5GTqs/s1600/DSCN9120%2B(800x600).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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There is a lot of work going on in our lane. The neighbours two doors down are getting new sidewalk tiles and the neighbours on the other side of them are getting a new roof. Both work crews arrive randomly and leave piles of debris. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">The roofers also appear to have acquired our watering hose (and broken) our hose reel.</span></td></tr>
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February 24, Johanna flew back to Canada to go to work. She filled her own big suitcase. I gave her my big suitcase and she could have easily filled another one. We stayed overnight with her in Istanbul. I took her to the airport at 6 a.m. for her 8:10 a.m. flight. </div>
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Istanbul traffic is legendary. One reason is the huge number of transport trucks moving goods in and out of Europe. The license plate from this truck says it's registered in Iran, you can see the yellow plate written in Arabic on the trailer door. Sadly the license plate is less visible.</div>
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On the way home from Istanbul, we stopped at the Florya Mall so we could get some bacon from the Macro Centre. This little grocery store sells all the regular Turkish products, side by side with grocery products from home we don't see in our local Kipa (grocery). Among other things we got some Cheerios, a bottle of HP, a container each of mint jelly, and horseradish and two packages of bacon. The prices are about what you'd expect for "imported" groceries. We all enjoy Turkish food, but it's nice to have flavours which remind us of home.</div>
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We have a cast iron Dutch oven at home. Cam has been "YouTube learning" so he can use it when we go camping this summer. When we found one for sale at The Macro Centre, we couldn't resist. </div>
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-65341830345883159052015-02-14T17:51:00.000+02:002015-02-22T17:57:49.482+02:00When the Family Ride is a Motorcycle<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This couple and their daughter are going home from the market on Valentime's Day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's got the groceries and the stroller carefully positioned on the handles of the bike and she's got the sleeping baby.</td></tr>
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-66356718973526135962015-02-06T14:24:00.001+02:002015-02-06T14:24:32.077+02:00Snail mail - or another exercise in patience.....One of the less straight forward aspects of Expat life is maintaining contact with people and hobbies back home. Our family reads voraciously, but English reading material is hard to come by and is quite limited in variety. We have a network the accumulates our snail mail and forwards it to us. This is effective, but can be quite slow. We are only now (Feb 6) reading our Christmas cards most of which were mailed in mid December. Flyers and catalogs are typically expired before they get to us.<br />
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For example, a friend from Manitoba sent me copies of a couple books he'd written and had published as a Christmas present. They were post marked in Lynn Lake MB Dec 18, 2014. They arrived here in near perfect condition, but the books had had quite a journey. Lynn Lake MB to Wimborne AB via Canada Post, where they
languished for a time, waiting on enough mail to accumulate to justify a mail dump, Greyhound to Cowtown where they
languished a week waiting on a decision whether to have them and the other mail hand
carried over by the next person bound this way, or sent via international courier, FedExed from Cowtown office to
regional office in Ankara, Turkey, then forwarded by Yurtici Cargo (local
courier) to Gellibolu. The local courier called me at 10:30 this morning. I was
home with the package before 12:30.... Hmmm, I wonder if MapQuest can add up the
distance?....<br /><br />Well, MapQuest wasn't much help ( intercontinental distances and Turkish language defaults complicated that issue). SWAG will have to do...
<br /><br />Lynn Lake to Wimborne +/- 1100 km<br />Wimborne to Cowtown +/- 150
km<br />Cowtown to Ankara Turkey +/- 600 kph x 13 hrs = 7800 km<br />Ankara to
Gellibolu +/- 700 km<br />Gellibolu to Saros 35 km<br /><br />Total estimated distance
9785 km, or 6116 miles via pick up truck, car, bus, truck, train, and airplane.
Of course, not including how KOO might have made the trek to the post office in
Lynn Lake - like the antique Famous Black Cat for instance..... Camhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05796886496285179453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-437288261885243942015-01-31T21:57:00.000+02:002015-02-05T02:50:28.561+02:00January 2015<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing says Happy New Year at the Tuesday market like a display of red undies!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One day early in the month some war ships gathered in the bay to practice shelling things. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Johanna and I had a mother/daughter lunch at the mall in Tekirdag. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We helped Sam celebrate his 13th birthday.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The municipality of Gelibolu has been hard at work making beautiful new sidewalks this month.<br />
Turkish drivers are obviously pleased.</td></tr>
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Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-41742301984195751242014-12-24T12:57:00.002+02:002014-12-24T12:57:31.389+02:00A Turkey for Christmas in Turkey<div class="MsoNormal">
First of all a language lesson; the animal we eat in North
America is called “hindi” in Turkey. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Three years ago today, Christmas Eve – day, we were in Kesan
at the Kipa shopping for our Christmas meal.
There at the meat counter, between the lamb and the stew beef we found
fresh turkey. Since then we’ve never seen fresh whole turkey at Kipa or any
other grocery store in our area and we’ve looked. We did see a pen of live turkeys in a
residential area of Istanbul a couple of weeks ago. Turks sometimes eat hindi at New Years.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yesterday, we visted grocery stores: Kipa (Gelibolu, Sarkoy and Kesan), Ozmar (Gelibou), Onur Market (Sarkoy), Migros
(Kesan) and four or five independent butchers in Gelibolu and Sarkoy. Cam also called our “pork supplier” in
Tekirdag and asked him to check out the Carrefour and then he called a
colleague who agreed to “ask around”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A couple of years ago we ordered a fresh turkey from an
independent butcher in a little town near our home. One of Cam’s colleagues ordered it on our
behalf. We would have, could have gone
back to this butcher shop, but one of Cam’s employer’s former suppliers left
the region two years ago owing money to a lot of local businesses. The butcher
associates Cam with this company. So every time we darken the door, he asks Cam
for the money. The butcher’s been told
that Cam works for a different company and we always pay cash. (Sadly there are
a few places we don’t shop for this reason.) <o:p></o:p></div>
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Leg of lamb (We call it LEGO lamb.) has been our special occasion meal the last few
years. We usually eat it at Thanksgiving
and Christmas. It makes a festive meal,
but this year, this year I really wanted turkey and Cam has done everything he
could to make that wish a reality. (He really is the best!)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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Our “pork supplier” called back to say that the Carrefour in
Tekirdag doesn’t have any turkey. However, when Cam’s colleague called back
yesterday, he had a question; “Do you want it cooked, ready to cook or alive?” </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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So it’s Christmas Eve – day and I don’t know whether we’ll
be eating the chicken that’s still in my freezer or a turkey we don’t own yet.
In the end it won’t really matter, Christmas isn’t about what’s on the table as
much as who’s around it as we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. </div>
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We hope that you will experience peace and joy in this
season and perhaps a slice of turkey with people who love you.<o:p></o:p></div>
Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-67428996027432984232014-12-15T17:28:00.000+02:002014-12-17T17:50:30.621+02:00Mall of Istanbul vs The Grand BazaarEvery trip to the airport, and there have been quite a few this year, has taken us past the <a href="http://www.mallofistanbul.com.tr/index.htm" target="_blank">Mall of Istanbul</a> which opened for business at the end of May. Malls are a relatively new thing in Turkey. There is some concern that malls will eventually mean the loss of local markets. Based on our experience over the past weekend, I doubt that will be the case any time soon.<br />
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We spent Saturday at the "Grand Bazaar". This Istanbul institution was going strong, crowded with tourists, shoppers and even a few folks like us who arrived with a list of things to buy. We watched a couple of Estonian men, with the help of a local guide, buy diamond/gold rings which cost in the thousands of Euros. We were served tea, but the vendor brought out a bottle of Raki and paper cups from under the counter for these fellows.<br />
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As usual we stayed near the airport and took taxis to the Grand Bazaar. Depending on your airport hotel the fare to the Sultanahmet is about C$25-40 one way and can take 20 - 40 minutes depending on traffic. Parking in the old city is impossible and means you must walk back to your car when you are finished, if you can find it! Hotels near the old city have limited parking.<br />
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We spent Friday afternoon at the Mall of Istanbul finishing our Christmas shopping and returned on Sunday to enjoy some family friendly activities. None of the Turkish movies interested us, but we did enjoy 10 pin bowling, air hockey and the MOIPark amusement park. There are rides for small children and a whole floor of rides more suited to teens and adults. The rides are well staffed, and clean. The staff don't speak much English but even so, a couple of them convinced Nicole and I to go on a ride which swung us up into the air and tumbled us upside down. We lived and we laughed, but it was the scariest ride there. Even when it was crowded the line ups were short. We rode all the rides we wanted (about 22 total) and spent about C$100.00. There are lots of access points for MOIPark throughout the mall. In addition to rides there are arcade games and a small stage for little children to dance on.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam and Nicole!</td></tr>
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By four o'clock Sunday afternoon the mall was a mad house. It was noisy and crowded. I spent about 90 minutes finishing my shopping. My patience by the time we met for supper was worn thin. The food fare was bedlam. There are a few restaurants in the food fare where you are treated to table service. We had supper at one and headed back to the hotel.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cam, Nicole and Johanna.</td></tr>
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Cam drove to the mall both times we went. Parking is free and underground, and it was easy to find a spot near the escalators. Like other underground parking garages we've used in Turkey, the underside of the car was inspected with a mirror and the guard opened the back hatch. Not sure what possible use this inspection was since it was hardly thorough but perhaps it serves as a deterrent.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The purple/blue track is for the roller coaster which I went on TWICE!<br />(I was afraid both times.)<br /></td></tr>
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In celebration of the new year, many malls are decorated with lights, tinsel and even "Christmas" trees, but the Mall of Istanbul had no decorations. Never the less, lots of the shops were selling lights, tinsel, Christmas trees, ornaments, door wreaths and Santas. Perhaps Christianity will come (back) to Turkey the way it has arrived in other cultures, piggybacked on other festivals.<br />
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Turks certainly seem to share the North American passion for shopping. Our weekend in Turkey was a great change from our everyday existence. Sam said on the way home "I forgot I was in Turkey".<br />
<br />Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-66553345553707902452014-12-08T19:04:00.000+02:002014-12-16T19:06:17.232+02:00Happy Birthday Johanna!Cam, Sam and I were on the road to Corlu by 7:30 a.m. on Johanna's birthday. Cam had a service appointment booked for the car and Sam decided it was a great day to spend at the mall Christmas shopping. Cam dropped us at the mall shortly after 9 a.m so we waited inside the entrance until the mall officially opened at 10 a.m. We managed to walk the mall by the time Cam came to pick us up about noon, but didn't buy much. We had lunch in Tekirdag on the way home. When we got home, Johanna got to open her presents and we enjoyed supper together and the Oreo Cheesecake birthday cake Nicole made at Johanna's request.<br />
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<u>Nicole's Yummy Oreo Cheesecake</u></div>
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250 grams Oreos<br />75 grams soft unsalted butter<br />1 x 400 grams jar Nutella (at room temperature)<br />100 grams chopped toasted hazelnuts<br />500 grams cream cheese (at room temperature)<br />60 grams icing sugar (sifted)<br /><br />METHOD</div>
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Separate the Oreos into cookies and filling.<br />Break the cookies into the bowl of a processor, add the butter and a 15ml tablespoon of Nutella, and blitz until it starts to clump. Add 25g/3 tablespoons of the hazelnuts and continue to pulse until you have a damp, sandy mixture.<br />Tip into a 23cm/9inch round springform and press into the base either using your hands or the back of a spoon. Place in the fridge to chill.<br />Beat the cream cheese and icing sugar until smooth and then add the remaining Nutella to the cream cheese mixture, and continue beating until combined. Nicole adds the Oreo filling to this mixture. (The first time Nicole made this she decreased the icing sugar because she added the filling and the second time she didn't add any sugar at all. Both times it was yummy!)<br />Take the springform out of the fridge and carefully smooth the Nutella mixture over the base. Scatter the remaining chopped hazelnuts on top to cover and place the tin in the fridge for at least four hours or overnight. Serve straight from the fridge for best results. (Our springform pan is at home in Canada, so Nicole put it in one of the multipurpose round pans we own.)<br />Additional information - for vegetarians make sure the cream cheese does not contain rennet.</div>
Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1178391209694484809.post-37220385091604482902014-11-24T14:41:00.001+02:002014-11-24T14:41:07.889+02:00When the Computer Dies or Why I Can't BlogFor most of the last year, I've been taking a computer repair course from the lovely people at the "Internet". More than once the refurbished Dell computer I bought from eBay in 2011 crashed and I was able to figure out how to get it restarted. I also learned to clean the fan, and install new memory cards. Thank you Google search and YouTube. <br />
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The computer finally died for good in late September. I'd anticipated this and brought a new HP laptop back from Canada in September.* It's got Windows 8 so I've spent all of the last couple of months trying to figure out how to deal with its eccentricities.<br />
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One of the more frustrating functions is that sites like Blogger now have "apps". They're free from HP but they don't actually work. Doesn't matter how often you try to open the app the result is the same; it flashes like it might open and then abruptly returns you to the main screen. Thanks for nothing! Sometimes deleting and reloading the app helps, sometimes it doesn't.<br />
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Because the Dell is dead, Nicole, Sam and I are back to sharing a computer so about the time I think I have a few minutes to blog, I have to hunt up the laptop which migrates around the house depending on what it was used for last (school, watching movies, paying bills or photo downloading/uploading) and then hunt up my handy dandy Internet password notebook, because Nicole was signed in last and for the life of me I can't remember my Blogger password. Whew!<br />
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The other thing that happened was that our router died shortly before we left for Canada last spring. The "new improved" router only sends Wifi signals to certain areas of the house. Johanna's room has a couple of very specific sweet spots and Nicole's room has intermittent Wifi depending on time of day, and phase of the moon. My bedroom gets great Internet if you sit on the very end of the bed and lean towards the door. To print a document on the printer in Nicole's bedroom it's best to sit in front of the router, download and save the document, then walk the laptop upstairs to the printer, plug it in and press print.<br />
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The good news in all of this is that I had a recent back up of the Dell's files which I was able to use Cam's old XP to open so I could retrieve document and photo files. I saved the files to an external hard drive, since the XP has no usable memory, but getting them open means taking them back to the XP and re saving them, then transferring them to the HP to print. Sometimes it's just easier to recreate the document.<br />
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Oh and we had company for a week, and we spent a week in Germany.<br />
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So those are my excuses for the state of the blog this fall. I'll try to do better.<br />
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*As a side note it is certainly possible to buy a computer in Turkey. They are generally more expensive than Canada, have a Turkish keyboard and are wired with a Turkish power supply.<br />
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<br />Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11106448204787874513noreply@blogger.com0